Automatic pattern zigzag sewing machine



April 13, 1965 MlNoRU TANAKA ETAL 3,177,835-

AUTOMTIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w www L@ @N SN NP m L d du Ln ier /A/l/EA/TOQS ///M/Ou /NAKA /Z-rsuA/OSUKE /VAGAOKA :13% masmkfg uw@ ammme/ @www April 13, 1965 Filed Sept. 5, 1962 MlNoRu TANAKA ETAL 3,177,835..

AUTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 gzZ- 35 36 52a 40 M581 552e mklim wmt April 13, 1965 MlNoRu TANAKA ETAL. 3,177,835-

UTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG' SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5,' 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 n-gs.

April 13, 1965 MlNoRu TANAKA Ewan.Y 3,177,835

AUTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 20 Zoff!- 29/ E78 220! I 'F14 flE lYlZ F11 M//vou 51A/AKA Tarsu/voeux? MGA o/A @HTM/maw April 13, 1965 MlNoRU TANAKA ETAL 3,177,835

AUTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N vf/vroks April 13, 1965 MlNoRu TANAKA ETAL 3,177,835

AUTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 C a c' E E gil-5.15.

United States Patent Office 3,177,835 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 3,177,835 AUTOMATIC PATTERN ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE The present invention relates to an improved automatic pattern zigzag sewing machine.

One object is to provide an automatic pattern zigzag sewing machine capable of making patterns peculiar to the direct method and those peculiar to the indirect method and also patterns in which the direct method and the indirect method are combined.

Another object is to provide an automatic pattern zigzag sewing machine with a novel pattern selecting device which facilitates making combinations of patterns because of its simple mechanism.

Another object is to provide an automatic pattern zigzag sewing machine which can be conditioned to perform buttonhole making by just turning the selector dial because a semiautomatic buttonholer device is built into the pattern selecting device.

Another object is to provide an automatic feed control device for such automatic pattern sewing permitting automatic pattern conversion and thus providing many types of patterns based on those indicated on the pattern indicator plate.

Other and more detailed objects of the present inven. tion will be appreciated from a consideration of the following specification, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, where:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the head frame portion of a sewing machine housing the pattern control cams and their immediately associated mechanism embodying the present invention, with the top cover member removed to reveal the internal mechanism;

`FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the sewing machine taken along the line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, showing the feed control mechanism within the sewing machine head frame;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section view taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE l showing the relation between selecting cams and selecting cam followers;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 shows an alternate Iform of the selecting dial of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l0 is an enlarged front elevation view of the pattern indicator plate, in which View the said plate shows the engraved sewing patterns;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken vertically along the line 11 11 of FIGURE 7, showing the selecting dial shaft and face cam mounted in the foundation plate;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken vertically along line 12-12 of FIGURE 7, showing the intermediate gear and selecting cam follower mounted on the foundation plate;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken vertically along line 13 13 of FIGURE 7, showing the pattern indicator plate mounted on the foundation plate, and the gear that turns the selecting cam and parts cooperating with the above-mentioned selecting dial;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14 14 of FIGURE 7, showing the selecting cam follower and buttonholing cam mounted on the foundation plate;

FIGURE 15 shows a modification where a gear is fixed to the selecting dial axle instead of the surface cam and a release bracket is made to rise;

FIGURE 16 is a section view taken along line 16 16 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is an elevation view of the cams forming the pattern cam group used in buttonholing, the left side of each cam being engraved with the sign representing the corresponding buttonholing position; and

FIGURE 18 shows sewing patterns that can be made by changing the shapes relative to the wedge piece shown in FIGURE 1.

Now referring to the drawings, there is provided in the sewing machine head frame 20 a cam axle 23 disposed in parallelism with an upper shaft 22 rotated by drive mechanism 21, the axle being driven from the upper shaft 22 at a certain rate determined by reduction gear device 24.

On cam axle 23 are arranged two groups of pattern cams 25, 26, mounted on cam positioning collars 27 driven from axle 23 by key 28 fitting in key groove 29 in cam axle 23. At the rear side of sewing machine head frame 20 are provided cam followers 30, 31, 32 alined with the two groups of pattern cams 25, 26. Cam follower 30 controls the width of oscillation of the needle bar in relation to pattern cam group 25, whereas cam follower 31 controls the change in the zigzag width of the needle bar in relation to the pattern cam group 26 and cam follower 32controls the direction and amount of feed in relation to pattern cam group 26.

Cam follower 30 is pivoted to sewing machine head frame 20 by screw axle 33 through foundation plate 34 so that it can oscillate in accordance with the circumferential shape of the cam alined therewith in pattern cam group 25 for controlling the width of `oscillation of the needle bar. (See FIGURE 5.) The lower end 35 of cam lfollower 30 oscillates a zigzag width control box 38 pivoted on pin 38', through link mechanism l36, 37, as shown in FIGURE 4. The link 36 is a bell crank which is pivoted at 36', with one arm 36a of the bell crank link 36 bearing against lower cam follower end 35 and its other arm 36b coupled to link 37 which in turn is pivotally coupled at 37' to the control box 38 adjacent the free end of the latter. Fan-shaped slide block 40 is fitted into the fan-shaped groove in zigzag width control box 38, Aand is connected'to needle bar oscillating bracket 42 through needle bar connecting rod 41 to oscillate the needle bar 43 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 shows the fan-shaped slide block 40 located over the center of oscillation of zigzag width control box 38. In other words, it shows the block 40 located at a position where, even if pattern cam group 2,5 may cause cam follower 30 and zigzag width control box 38 to oscillate, needle bar 43 will not oscillate and thus straight sewing without lateral oscillation of the needle willrbe effected. When the position of fan-shaped slide block 40 is displaced from the center of oscillation of zigzag width control box 38, needle bar 43 oscllates laterally with a zigzag width corresponding to the position occupied by fan-shaped slide block 40.

Cam follower 31 is secured to sewing machine head frame 2tl`through foundation plate 44, so that it can oscillate in accordance with the circumferential shape of the cam alined therewith in pattern cam group 26 for controlling the change in zigzag width or width of oscillation of needle bar 43. (See FIGURE 6.) The lower end 45 of cam follower 31 is connected to needle bar connecting rod 41 through link mechanism 46, 47, 48 as is shown, in FIGURE 4. Link members 46 and 47 are serially arranged bell crank type members pivoted to the machine frame at 46', 47', one arm of member 46 bearing against follower en d 45 and the other arm transmitting motion to the adjacent arm of bell crank link 47 whose remote end is coupled by link 48 to the needle bar connecting rod 41. As zigzag width control box 38 and link mechanism 47 are always biased to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 4, by springs 49, 50, cam followers 30, 31 are always pressed toward pattern cam groups 25, 26. The oscillation of cam follower 31 by a zigzag width control cam of group 26 together with needle bar connecting rod 41 causes the position of fau-shaped slide block 40 in zigzag width control box 38 to change. Combination of this change in position of block 40 and the oscillation of zigzag width control box 38 itself causes the oscillation of the needle bar to change in width and makes it possible to perform the same automatic pattern sewing as is performable on an ordinary indirect method pattern sewing machine. There is shown in FIGURE 4 a manual lever 51 for changing the needle position, and a manual dial 53 is shown in FIGURE 1 for adjusting the degree of oscillation of needle bar 43 through link 54. The manual lever 51 is connected to a plate 51a pivoted at 51', which has a pin 5117 projecting into the fork in the end of arm 52a of the bell crank lever 52 to rotate the bell crank lever about its pivot 52. The arm 52b of the bell crank lever extends beneath the control box 38 and supports the pivot 38' of the control box 38. The end of the arm 52h of the bell crank` lever has a projection 52e which abuts fixed stops 52d and 52e to limtthe degree of` movement of the lever 52. By adjusting the lever 52 and therefore the position of the pivot 38' for the control box 38, the needle position is adjusted.

The manual dial 53 has a cam which actuates the flange 54a of pivoted link 54 also rotatable about the pivot 51'. The opposite end 54h of link 54 has an upwardly projecting pin 54cwhich may be shifted into contact with the armv 47a of bell crank lever 47 to rotate the bell crank lever 47 counterclockwise against the force of spring 50. Due to the link 48 connected to. the end ofthe lever arm 47a and to the needle bar connecting rod 41 the degree of oscillation of the needle bar is regulated manually by shifting the position of the slide block 40 away from the pivot 38 of the control box 38. Cam follower 32 is pivoted in the sewing machine head frame by screw axle 67 through foundation plate 44 soV that `it can oscillate in accordance with the circumferential shape of the cams provided in pattern cam group 26 for controlling the feed. The oscillation produced in accordance with the shape of the cam engaged by cam follower 32 is transmitted to feed controller 66 through link mechanisms 62, 63, 64, 65 and changes the amount and direction of feed. (See FIGURES 1 and 3.) By variedv combinations of the change in feed amount and direction' and of the direct oscillation of needle bar 43, scores of sewing patterns can bel made.

The device for manually controlling the amount and direction of feed comprises operative dial 71 and a push button 72 for reverse sewing. Since they have no special relation to the automatic device described herein, explanation thereof is omitted here. There is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 a feed operating member 73 which is connected with cam 75 and cooperates with feed controller 66, whereas 74 is a feed operating rod mounted in the crank portion 76 of upper shaft 22. l

The present invention is arranged to permit both the direct method of pattern sewing and indirect method of pattern sewing to be employed. The term direct method as used herein refers to zigzag sewing machine systems involving direct coupling of oscillatory movement of a pivoted cam follower produced by a pattern cam to the needle bar connecting rod, typically provided by a follower nose on the connecting rod bearing on and biased toward a surface of the cam follower at selected spaced positions eccentric of the pivot axis of the cam follower.

The term indirect method refers to the type of zigzag system which involves one cam for imparting oscillatory movement to a pivoted guide member (such as control box 38) and a second cam which positions a slide member (such as slide block 40) relative to the pivot axis of the guide member to vary the width of zigzag movement generated by the first-mentioned cam by varying the position of the slide member in the pivoted guide member during oscillation of the guide member, producing a compound movement of the needle bar derived `from both cams. In case cam follower 30 alone is made to coact with the pattern cams, the direct method of pattern sewing is employed, in which case the zigzag width pattern can be adjusted at will, but the zigzag width of the pat.

tern cannot be changed even when the needle position is changed. Again, in case cam followers 30, 31 are made to cooperate simultaneously, either the direct or indirect methods becomes performable. In case the zigzag width and the needle position are manually adjusted, varied patterns can be made as the case may be. In case cam followers 30 and 32 are made to cooperate simultaneously, patternsewing in which automatic changes in feed are added to direct method of pattern sewing isV performable.

In the example illustrated, pattern cam group 25 consists of ten plate cams, the circumferential surface of the cams being formed so that sewing patterns corresponding to sign Nos. 101-112 indicated on the pattern indicator plate as is shown in FIGURE 10 can be made. When said pattern sewing is being performed, pattern cam group 26 is in the position as is shown in FIGURE 1, and cam followers 31 and 32 are so positioned that they donot follow pattern cam group 26. In the illustration of pattern cam group 26, ve plate cams on the left side are so assembled that sliding movement can be effected between the plate cams and cam follower 31, and they are Yso provided that they-can make patterns 119-133, FIG- URE l0, in cooperation with cam followers 30 and 31. Three plate cams on the right hand side of pattern cam group 26 are so assembled that sliding movement can be effected between the plate cams and cam follower 32, and they are so provided thatthey can make patterns 113.-.118, FIGURE 10, in cooperation with cam followers 30 and 32.

Thus, it will lbe appreciated that in an ordinary automatic pattern sewing machine, combination of the three elements (change in the oscillating width of needle bar, change in the amount of feed and change in direction) are required, Athe same number of selected cams as the number of cam followers is required. However, in this invention it becomes possible to get suchv combinations of patterns as are made byy the above-mentioned three elements by the use of three cam followers 30, 31, 32 and twoselecting cams.

To carry out the selection of cams to coact with the cam followers, selecting cams 201, 202 at right angles to cam axle 23 are provided on thesame axle 203 and slid'- ably mounted on foundation plate 204 as a mechanism for sliding pattern cam group 25, 26 in any desired position in relation to cam followers 30, 31, 32. On foundation plate 204, selecting cam followers 205, 206 are pivoted at the left and right sides of selecting cams 201, 202 and have projecting parts 207, 208- to contact the circumferential surface of said cams 201, 202. Terraced screws 209, 210, form their center of support. A center spring 211 extends between the tips of selecting cam followers 205, 206 in such a manner that said spring can act in accordancev with the circumferential shape of selecting cams 201, 202, and thusr sliding movement can be eifected between projecting parts 207, S of said cam followers 205, 206 and the circumferential surface of selecting cams 201, 202.

Near the tips of selecting cam followers 205, 206 are provided pattern cam moving pins 212, 213 inserted in grooves 214, 215 provided in the ange of cam positioning collars 27. Selecting cam followers 205, 206 and selecting cams 201, 202 are set in such a manner that the required sewing pattern can be made by causing oscillation of cam followers 205, 206 in accordance with the circumferential shape of selecting cams 201, 202 to make pattern cam group 25, 26 slide along cam axle 23 and by causing the respective dierent cam surfaces of pattern cam groups 25, 26 to drive cam followers 30, 31, 32. Indication of patterns is made by fixing pattern indicator plate 216 to forwardly projecting part of shaft 203 extending through foundation plate 204, and by indicating thereon the patterns that can be made in the positions of cam groups 25, 26 determined by Ithe shapes of selecting cams 201, 202 by means of signs 101-134 as in FIG URE l0.

In other automatic pattern sewing machines already publicly known, pattern selection is made by operating a specially provided lever and thus bringing the cam follower out of engagement with pattern cam or else by turning a thumb portion coaxial with the pattern cam indicator after the latter is pressed.

In such cases, often the pattern indicator plate is covered with the hand and is difficult to observe. In case many patterns are indicated, the drawback is that the relative positions of selecting cams and selecting cam followers are not accurately established. It is particularly diiiicult to perform buttonhole sewing on one and the same dial. In order to get rid of this drawback, this invention provides a selecting dial independently of the pattern indicator plate 216. By operation of this dial, all automatically made patterns can be changed at will.

Intermediate gear 219, gear 218 and pattern indicator plate 216 are associated together in such a manner that the engagement of gear 218 with intermediate gear 219 is made freely adjustable. Gear 218 is effectively integral with selecting cams 201, 202 since the selecting cams and gear, when formed separately and fixed to the same axle, have the same effect as if they were integral. Intermediate gear 219 is supported on foundation plate 204 through axis 220, and turns when it is kicked by projecting piece 222 to turn pattern indicator plate 216 to the desired indicated position. On selecting shaft 221 is provided a face cam 223 in such a manner that face cam 223 comes into faceto-face contact with offset 226 provided on release arm 225 whose end is pivoted to sewing machine head frame 20 by pivot 224. When selecting dial 217 is turned with pattern cam groups 2S, 26 and cam followers 30, 31, 32 in pressure contact, the shifting of pattern cam groups 25, 26 presses cam followers 30, 31 and 32 toward cam axle 23 and causes the cam followers to get out of order. The following mechanism is provided to prevent the cam followers from being out of order:

Upon turning of selecting dial 217, offset 226 pressing against face cam 223 shifts the sliding surface of face cam 223 together with release bracket 225, and release bracket 225 will be turned rearward or in a direction opposite to that of the sewing machine operator.V This moves T-shaped release bracket 228 provided at the tip of release bracket 225 and makes cam followers 30, 31 withdraw from the sliding surface of pattern cams. Release plate 230` based on bracket 231 provided in sewing machine head frame 20 is also moved rearwardly by means of release connecting rod 229 and presses against cam follower 32 at the tip of release plate 230, making the cam follower 32 leave the cam surface. Selecting dial 217 is xed to selecting shaft 221 at the end part of selecting shaft 221 projecting out of foundation plate 204 beyond front decorative plate 232, which is preferably made of transparent plastic, and selecting dial 217 turns pattern indicator plate 216 through projecting pieces 222. Projecting pieces 222 are provided at symmetrical points spaced apart 180 circumferentially of shaft 221 and are positioned in selected relation to face cam 223. When selecting dial 217 is turned, offset 226 is pressed and makes the above-mentioned retreat. But projecting pieces 222 contact intermediate gear 219 only when dial 217 has made a from their normal positions'. Therefore pattern indicator plate 216 is not turned until that time. When oifset 226 reaches the highest level 233 of the projecting part of face cam 223 and selecting dial 217 makes about 90 rotation, the intermediate gear 219 is kicked by one of the projecting pieces 222 to cause pattern indicator plate 216 to turn through the arcuate distance between the center of succession symbols. (1/34 rotation in FIGURE 9.) When another 90 rotation has been given to selecting dial 217 or when selecting dial 217 has been given rotation from its original position prior to the commcement of rotation, offset 226 is brought back to the groove in face cam 223 by spring 234 and makes cam followers 30, 31, 32 contact cam groups 25, 26 through release bracket 225. By repeating this operation, pattern cam groups 25, 26 and cam followers 30, 31, 32 are set in the position of the desired sewing pattern indicated on pattern indicator plate. It will be notedthat face cam 223 and offset 226 are at all times brought into sliding contact with each other in accordance with the turning of selecting dial 217 by causing spring 234 to act upon release bracket 225 constantly. Gear 218 is always in contact with a check or resilient stop 235 made of thin steel whose points are V-shaped at a gentle angle, so that there can be no deviation in the position of pattern indicator plate 216 while the sewing machine is in operation. The stop 235 is of such ratchet type or click stop type that it goes over the teeth of gear 218 while selecting dial 217 is turned. The relation between projecting pieces 222 and the teeth of intermediate gear 219 must be such that the former can kick only one of the teeth of the latter. Otherwise there will be deviation between the position of selecting cam-s 201, 202 and that of selecting cam followersl 205, 206 and accordingly the aforementioned operation will become unperformable. Therefore, the teeth of intermediate gear 219 must be of specially selected shape so that only one of the gear teeth is kickedeach time selecting dial 217 has made a 180 rotation.

By giving a one-half revolution to selecting dial 217, the adjoining pattern on the pattern indicator plate can be selected. This superior feature can well be appreciated in buttonholing to be mentioned later. An alternate form of selecting dial, to be substituted for the dial 217, is illustrated in FIGURE 9, wherein selecting dial 241 is provided with handle 242 that can freely be folded or expanded, the handle providing convenient means by which the position representing the desired pattern on the pattern indicator plate can be aligned with the red-colored indicator mark positioned above the indicator plate. When handle 242 is in its horizontal position, pattern cam groups 25, 26 are in contact with cam followers 30, 31, 32. When the handle 242 is in any other position, the above-mentioned pattern selecting mechanism is rendered inoperative.

An alternate mechanism is illustrated in FIGURES 15 and 16, wherein an axially movable selecting dial 251 and gear 253 are employed instead of dial 217 and projecting pieces 222. The mechanism of selecting dial 251 is such that the resistance to the turning of the dial is reduced by properly selecting the ratio of rotation between selecting dial 251 and pattern indicator plate 216. In other words, the engagement of gear 218 formed integral with selecting cams 201, 202 with intermediate gear 219 is made freely adjustable, and intermediate gear 219 is brought into engagement with gear253 provided on selecting shaft 252. At the end portion projecting outwardly from foundation plate 204 of selecting shaft 252 is provided selecting dial 251. Compression spring 255 is provided between snapY ring 254 on shaft 252 and foundation plate 204, and dial 251 is xed to one end of the shaft. Restricting piece 256 provided on foundation plate 204 is made to engage part of selecting gear 253 and thus restricts the turning of selecting dial 251. If selecting dial 251 is turned when pattern cam groups 25, 26 and cam followers 30, 31, 32 contact each other, the dial will get out of order. Restricting piece 256 is instrumental in restricting the turning of the dial. In making pattern selections, selecting dial 251 is pressed toward selecting shaft 252. Then, offset 257 provided on release bracket 225 pivoted to sewing machine head frame by pivot 224 turns together with release bracket 225, and T-shaped release bracket 228 provided on its other end is pressed rearwardly with the result that cam followers 30, 31 leave the cam surface, release bracket 230 is pressed through release connecting rod 229 provided at about the middle of release bracket 225 and cam follower 32 leaves thev cam surface. In this state, selecting gear 253 and restricting piece 256 are brought out of engagement with each other. Therefore, when selecting dial 251 is turned and pattern indicator plate 216 is turned to the desired position, selecting cams 201, 202 cooperate, pattern cam groups 25, 26 slide over cam axle 23 and pattern selection can safely be made. When the pressure by selecting dial 251 is released, release bracket 225 cooperates and cam followers 30, 31, 32 makes sliding contact with pattern caml groups 25, 26. There is no fear of selecting gear 253 being made'by compression spring 255 to reengage restricting plate 256 and of the position pattern cam groups 25, 26 being changed during the operation. In this case, stop 235 as is provided on gear 218 of pattern indicator plate 216 is not required.

Explanation will be made here of buttonholing feature mentioned in one of the objects.

Into pattern cam group are assembled buttonholing cams of the shape shown in FIGURE 17. Cam 265 controls upper and lower bar tacking performed in buttonholing. As illustrated in FIGURE 17, the cams 265, 275 and 285 have on their left side engraved symbols 261, 271, 272, which are identifications for parts to be sewn, and in their center are provided with holes 262, 272, 282 to be fitted into cam positioning collar 27. The cams have key grooves 263,273, 283 and also dowel pin holes 264, 274, 284. Cam 275 controls the left side sewing in buttonholing and cam 285 controls the right edge sewing in buttonholing. The amount of cloth feed (dimension) and the cloth feeding direction (forward, backward, left and right feeding) are determined by the position relation between feed cam 291 fixed coaxially with selecting cams 201, 202 or formed integral with selecting cams 201, 202 and gear 218,'and feed cam follower 292 attached to the base of terraced screw 209 which is the pivot for selecting cam follower 205, the feed cam follower 292 having a boss 293 which engages the feed cam 291. Movement of feed cam follower 291 is transmitted to feed controller 66 via connecting rodsr 294, 295 and link mechanisms 63, 64, 65 and automatically adjusts the incline of feed controller 66 to the amount and direction of feed at the time. By aligning patterns 102-105 with the indicator by turning selecting dial 217 the parts indicated are successively sewn and buttonholing is completed. Due to'thefpeculiarity of buttonholing, bar tacking in patterns 102, 104 need only 4-5 stitches, and left and right edge sewing can be performed in a much shorter time than in ordinary pattern sewing.

In the above construction of the present invention, buttonholing cams 265, 275,V 285 are built into pattern cam group 25 on cam shaft 23, and the dierence between the circumferential contours of pattern cams 265, 275, 285 and mean diameter enables four-stage bar tacking and edge sewing in buttonholing to be performed. The above-mentioned different shapes of cams 265, 275,285 cause the amount of oscillation of cam follower to be changed. This oscillation of cam follower 30 is transmitted to zigzag width control box 38 through link mechanisms 36, 37 and zigzag width is transmittedA to the needle bar. This zigzag width is determined by changing the position relation between fan-shaped slide block 40 and zigzag width box 38 through links 54, 46, 47, 48 by the operation of hand-operated dial 53. On the working side of feed cam 291 on the shaft 203 are provided medium surfaces 296, 298, low surface 297 and high surface 299, each one of which is brought into sliding contact with projecting boss 293 on feed cam follower292. When feed cam follower 292 is on medium surface 296, sign 102 on indicator plate 216 is aligned with the fixed indicator (not shown, but provided just above pattern indicator plate 216 on front decorative plate 232). When feed cam follower 292 is on surface 297, sign 103 is aligned with the indicator, when it is on medium surface 298, sign 104 is in the same position, and when it is on high surface 299, sign 105 is in the same position. That is why bar tacking can be performed on the upper edge of a buttonhole when sign 102 on pattern indicator plate is aligned with the indicator. In this case, controlled by medium surface 296 of feed cam 291, feed cam follower 292 controls the incline of feed controller 66 through connecting rods 294, 295 and link mechanisms 63, 64, 65 so that satin stitching can be performed, and at the same time selecting cam 201 sets pattern selecting cam group 25 in a position where cam 265, in pattern cam group 25, and cam follower 30 make sliding contact with each other. By the oscillation of cam follower 30, the required zigzag width is given by the oscillation of cam follower 30. When sign 103 on pattern indicator plate 216 is aligned with the indicator by giving a rotation to selecting dial 217, projecting boss 293 on cam follower 292 is on high surface 297 of feed cam 291 and feed controller 66 is inclined in the direction of forward stitcher stitching and forward satin stitching becomes performable. Selecting cam 201 brings cam 275 in pattern cam group 25 and cam follower 30 into sliding contact. The height of the projecting lobe of cam 275 is about half that of the same lobe of the above-mentioned bar tacking plate cam 265, and the diameter of the hollow part of cam 275 is equal to that of the same part of bar tacking cam 265. Therefore, by decreasing the zigzag width of the needle bar 43 left edge stitching in buttonholing is performed. When another 180 rotation is given by turning selecting dial 217, sign 104 on pattern indicator plate 216 is aligned with the indicator and projecting boss 293 on feed cam follower 292 is on the medium surface of feed cam 291. Therefore, feed controller 66 is again inclined to suit the above-mentioned bar tacking, and at the same time, selecting cam 201 brings cam 265 in pattern cam group 25 and cam follower 30 into sliding contact with each other through cam follower 205. By giving another 180 rotation to selecting dial 217, sign 105 on pattern indicator plate 216 is aligned with the indicator, and projecting boss 293 on feed cam follower 292 is on the high surface 299 of feed cam 291. Therefore, feed controller 66 is inclined in the direction of satin stitching and the cloth is fed backward, andfselecting cam 201 causes cam follower 30 to make sliding contact with Acam 285 in pattern cam group 25 through cam follower 205. The outer diameter of the projecting lobe 286 of cam 285 is the same or nearly corresponds to that of the corresponding lobe 266 of bar tacking cam 265 and the outer diameter of the recessed part 287 of plate cam 285 is nearly the same as that of the projecting lobe 276 of bar tacking cam 275. Therefore, the needle position of needle bar 43 oscillated by cam 285 is shifted to the right side by a certain xed width and needle bar 43 makes zigzag oscillation as to perform the right edge stitching in backward satin stitches.

Generally conventional automatic pattern sewing machines are provided with a buttonholing device which is independent of a pattern selecting device. However, as is mentioned above, operation of this present invention is made much easier and simpler by making it possible to operate a pattern selecting device and a buttonholing device.

Finally, explanation will be made of the automatic feed control device which is mentioned in another object of this new invention.

In conventional automatic pattern sewing machines, varied kinds of pattern sewing is performed by transmitting the movement of cam followers cooperating in sliding contact with a pattern cam group, giving oscillation to the needle bar and thus causing the amount of feed to be varied through the feed controller. Therefore, the number of varied sewing patterns obtainable with a restricted number of pattern cam groups is also restricted. In order to make many patterns, the number of pattern cam groups must be increased or else the zigzag width of the needle bar must be varied as often as possible. However, in this present invention, it has been made possible to make many more sewing patterns of different pitches and Widths than the restricted number of pattern cam groups. At the same time, this present invention is so constructed that in case wear occurs on cam followers that come into sliding contact with pattern cams, unbalance in patterns can be corrected. The above objects are attained by inserting a wedge whose position can be adjusted at will by a manipulative part provided outside the sewing machine head frame to adjust the clearance between cam followers associated with the pattern cams and -a lever by which the movement of the cam followers is transmitted to the feed controller.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, cam follower 32 which is in sliding contact with pattern cam group 26 transmits its movement to feed controller 66 through link mechanisms 62, 63 64 and 65, and changes the amount and direction of feed. Between cam follower 32 and the end 301 of L-shaped link 62 is inserted wedge 302. The base of wedge 302 is secured to lever 304 projecting out of sewing machine head frame 20 as indicated at 303. The pointed edge of wedge 302 is properly sloped and operates lever 304. By changing the position where wedge 302 is inserted between cam follower 32 and the wedge-engaging end 301 of L-shaped link 62, the distance between cam follower 32 and wedge engaging end 301 of L-shaped link 62 can be changed at will. Such change in the distance between cam follower 32 and the wedge-engaging end 301 of L-shaped link 62 causes the incline of feed controller 66 to be changed through link mechanisms 62, 63, 64, with the result that the amount of feed is caused to be changed. By operation of lever 304 and with cooperation given by feed controller, such patterns of different pitches (unbalanced patterns) as are shown by (a), (b), (c) or (a'), (b'), (c) in FIGURE 18 are obtainable. When such unbalanced patterns of forward and backward pitches as are shown in FIGURE 18a and FIGURE l8b are observed, arising from wear of cam follower 32, this can be corrected by changing the position where wedge 302 is inserted. In other words, by enlarging the extent of insertion of wedge 302 as cam follower 32 wears, the position of L-shaped link 62 relative to pattern cam group 26 can be adjusted to compensate for wear of cam follower 32, and thus balance in forward and backward stitching can be maintained.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to locate the wedge 302 between cam follower 32 and the wedge-engaging end 301 of L-shaped link 62. Wedge 302 may be inserted between links 62 and 63, between links 64 and 65 or between links 65 and 66. The mechanism for adjusting the amount of feed by means of wedge 302 is in itself of practical Value. The mechanism for varying the amount of feed by oscillating cam followers in accordance with the outer circumferential shape of pattern cam groups provided and transmitting this movement to feed controller can be applied to all types of zigzag sewing machines.

While several specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, a hollow frame, a needle mounted on said frame for endwise reciprocation and for lateral movements transversely of the direction of reciprocation, an elongated cam shaft supported Within said frame, first and second groups of rotary pattern cams mounted in side-by-side coaxial relation on said cam shaft, means for driving said cam shaft to rotate said cams simultaneously about the axis thereof, first and second cam followers pivotally supported alongside the cam shaft at fixed stations spaced axially along the cam shaft in coactive association respectively with the first and second cam groups, means for adjusting said cam groups axially of said cam shaft relative to each other and relative to their associated cam followers to locate selected pattern cams in a position to be engaged and tracked by the cam followers associated with said rst and second groups of cams, means for coupling movement of said first cam follower to said needle for imparting lateral swinging movement of selected width to the needle in response to movement of the cam follower by the pattern cam engaged thereby to impart a zigzag oscillation pattern of selected width to the needle, and means coupling movement of said second cam follower to said needle for varying the amplitude of zigzag oscillations imparted to the needle in accordance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said second cam follower.

2. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, a hollow frame, a needle mounted on said frame for endwise reciprocation and for lateral movements transversely of the direction of reciprocation, an elongated cam shaft supported within said frame, first and second groups of rotatary pattern cams mounted in side-by-side coaxial relation on said cam shaft, means for driving said cam shaft to rotate said cams simultaneously about the axis thereof, first and second cam followers pivotally supported alongside the cam shaft at fixed stations spaced axially along the cam shaft in coactive association respectively with the first and second cam groups, means for adjusting said cam groups axially of said cam shaft relative to each other and relative to their associated cam followers to locate selected pattern cams in a position to be engaged and tracked by the cam followers associated with said first and second groups of cams, linkage means for coupling movement of said first cam follower .to said needle for imparting lateral swinging movement of selected width to the needle in response to movement of the cam follower by the pattern cam engaged thereby to impart a zigzag oscillation pattern of selected width to the needle,rand means coupling movement of said second cam follower to said linkage means for cyclically varying the amplitude of zigzag oscillations imparted to the needle in accordance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said second cam follower.

. 3. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, a hollow frame, a needle mounted on said frame for endwise reciprocation and for lateral movements transversely of `the direction of reciprocation, an elongated cam shaft supported within said frame, first and second groups of rotary pattern cams mounted in side-by-side coaxial relation on said cam shaft, means for driving said cam `shaft to rotate said cams simultaneously about the axis thereof, rst, second and third cam followers pivotally supported alongside the cam shaft at fixed stations spaced axially along the Ycam shaft, said first and second cam followers being associated with the first and second cam groups respectively to track the cams thereof and said third cam followerV being associated with one of said groups of cams to track the cams'thereof, means for adjusting said cam groups axially of said cam shaft Vrelative to each other and relative to their associated cam followers to locate selected pattern cams in a position to be engaged and tracked by the cam followers associated with said first and second groups of cams, means for coupling movement of said first cam follower to said needle for imparting lateral swinging movement of selected width to the needle in response to movement of the cam follower by the pattern cam engaged thereby to impart a zigzag oscillation pattern of selected width to the needle, means coupling movement of said second cam follower to said needle for cyclically varying the amplitude of zigzag oscillations imparted to the needle in accordance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said second cam follower, feed means for feeding material to be sewn in forward and reverse directions relative to the needle, and means coupling movement of said third cam follower to said feed means to regulate the amount and direction of feed of the material in accordance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said third cam follower.

4. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, a hollow frame, a needle mounted on said frame for endwise reciprocation and for lateral movements transversely of the direction of reciprocation, an elongated cam shaft supported within said frame, first and second groups of rotatary pattern cams mounted in side-by-side coaxial relation on said cam shaft, means for driving said cam shaft to rotate said cams simultaneously about the axis thereof, first, second and third cam followers pivotally supported alongside the cam shaft at fixed stationsspaced axially along the cam shaft, said first cam follower being associated with the first cam group to track the cams thereof and said second and third cam followers being associated with said second group of cams to track the cams thereof, means for adjusting said cam groups axially of said cam shaft relative to each other and relative to their associated cam followers to locate selected pattern cams in a position to be engaged and tracked by the cam followers associated with said first and second groups of cams, linkage means for coupling movement of said first cam follower to said needle for imparting lateral swinging movement of selected width to the needle in response to movement of the cam follower by the pattern cam engaged thereby to impart a zigzag oscillation pattern of selected width to the needle, means coupling movement of said second cam follower to said linkage means for cyclically varying the amplitude of zigzag oscillations imparted to the needle in accordance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said second cam follower, feed means for feeding material to be sewn in forward and reverse directions relative to the needle, and means coupling movement of said third cam follower to said feed means to regulate the amount and direction of feed of the material in-accord'- ance with the peripheral surface variations of the pattern cam engaged by said third cam follower.

5. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, the combination defined in claim l including selecting dial means rotatable to a plurality of angular positions representing different selected zigzag patterns to bel sewn, said selecting dial means having a pair of selecting cams rotatable therewith, and a pair of selecting cam followers coactive respectively with said selecting cams and coupled respectively with said first and second cam groups for axially adjusting the cam groups to align selectedy pattern cams with the cam followers associated with said cam groups in preselected combinations related to the angular .positions of said dial means.

6. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively Yproducing a'plurality of stitch patterns, the combination defined in claim 3 including selecting dial means rotatable to a plurality of angular positions representing different selected zigzag patterns to be sewn, said selecting dial means having a pair of selecting cams rotatable therewith, and a pair of selecting cam followers coactive respectively with said selecting cams and coupled respectively with said rst and second cam groups for axially adjusting the cam groups to align selected pattern cams with the cam followers associated with said cam groups in preselected combinations related to the angular positions of said dial means.

7. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, the combination defined in claim 1 including selecting dial means rotatable to a plurality of angular positions representing different selected zigzag patterns to be sewn, said selecting dial means having a pair of selecting cams rotatable therewith, and a pair of selecting cam followers coactive respectively with said selecting cams and coupled respectively with said first and second cam groups Vfor axially adjusting the cam groups to align selected pattern cams with the cam followers associated with said cam groups in preselected combinations related to the angular positions of said dial means, and means responsive to turning of said selecting dial means for withdrawing `from engagement with said pattern cams all of the cam followers associated with said cam groups to free the same from interfering contact with said cam groups during axial adjustment thereof by the selecting cam followers.

8. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, the combination defined in claim 4 including selecting dial means rotatable to a plurality of angular positions representing different selected zigzag patterns to be sewn, said selecting dial means having a pair of selecting cams rotatable therewith, and a pair of selecting cam followers coactive respectively with said selecting cams and coupled respectively with said first and second cam groups for axially adjusting the cam groups to align selected pattern cam with the cam followers associated with said cam ygroups in preselected combinations related to the angular positions of said dial means, and means responsive to turning of said selecting dial means for withdrawing from engagement with said pattern cams all of the cam followers associated with said cam groups to free the same from interfering contact with said cam groups during axial adjustment thereof by the selecting cam followers.

9. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, the cornbination defined in claim 1 including a pivoted wedge member having a wedge-shaped end portion thereof inserted between at least one of said cam followers and the means coupling movement thereof to said needle, and means accessible from externally of said frame for adjusting the extent of insertion of said wedge-shaped end portion therebetween to vary the sewing patterns affected by said cam followerk and correct for wear conditions.

10. In an ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, the Vcombination defined in claim 4 including a pivoted wedge member having a wedge-shaped end portion thereof inserted between at least one of said cam followers and the means coupling movement thereof to said needle, and means accessible from externally of said frame for adjusting the extent of insertion of said wedge-shaped end portion therebetween to vary the sewing patterns affected by said cam follower and correct for wear conditions.

11. An ornamental stitch sewing machine for selectively producing a plurality of stitch patterns, as defined in claim l, including feed means for feeding material to be sewn in forward and reverse directions relative to the needle, selecting dial means rotatable to a plurality of angular position representing different selected zigzag patterns to be sewn including a feed cam rotatabl e therewith, a :feed cam follower coacting with said yfeed cam kand coupled to `said feed meansfto regulate the amount and direction of feed of material to be sewn in laccordance with the peripheral sunface configuration of said feed 0am, said cams of one of said groups of rotary pattern cams including a plurality of buttonholing cams -for controlling the zigzag oscillation pattern width imparted to the needle for the right and left hand edges of a buttonhole and for the ends of the buttonhole, said feed cam having peripheral surface configuration to control amount of material feed and forward and reverse direction of feed in coordinated relation to tracking of said buttonholing cams by their associated cam follower.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,034,461r 5/62 Urscheier i12-15s 3,034,462 5/62 Hida p 112-158 3,043,252 7/62 Engel i12-415s 3,070,050 12/62 H611 et a1 i12- 15s FOREIGN PATENTS 783,358 9/5'/ GreatBrirain.

611,830 10/16 Italy.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, RUSSELL C. MADER,

Examiners. 

1. IN AN ORNAMENTAL STITCH SEWING MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF STITCH PATTERNS, A HOLLOW FRAME, A NEEDLE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR ENDWISE RECIPROCATION AND FOR LATERAL MOVEMENTS TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF RECIPROCATION, AN ELONGATED CAM SHAFT SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID FRAME, FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS OF ROTARY PATTERN CAMS MOUNTED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE COAXIAL RELATION ON SAID CAM SHAFT, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CAM SHAFT TO ROTATE SAID CAMS SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF, FIRST AND SECOND CAM FOLLOWERS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ALONGSIDE THE CAM SHAFT A FIXED STATIONS SPACED AXIALLY ALONG THE CAM SHAFT IN COACTIVE ASSOCIATION RESPECTIVELY WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND CAM GROUPS, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID CAM GROUPS AXIALLY OF SAID CAM SHAFT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND RELATIVE TO THEIR ASSOCIATED CAM FOLLOWERS TO LOCATE SELECTED PATTERN CAMS IN A POSITION TO BE ENGAGED AND TRACKED BY THE CAM FOLLOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID 